128 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



very considerable climatic variation from southern forms in the 

 direction of having more white in the plumage, but it is by no 

 means clear that these changes are due to Protective Selection. 

 In the Willow Grouse and Mealy Redpolls this divergence from 

 the original type is much more marked and established. 



In concluding this notice of Professor Collett's interesting 

 pamphlet, it is to be observed that much of the most important 

 and scientific part of the original has been omitted by the trans- 

 lator. At the same time the English edition contains not only 

 much original matter — the result of personal observation — 

 but also, in an Appendix (added at the suggestion of Mr. 

 Sclater), a most useful list of the birds which breed in Norway, 

 and of the non-breeding feathered visitors. 



NOTES on THE SEAL and WHALE FISHERY of 1893. 

 By Thomas Southwell, F.Z.S. 



The uncertainty of all connected with the Seal and Whale 

 Fishery was never more manifest than in the season of 1893, 

 which has been the worst known for many years for the vessels 

 leaving the Newfoundland ports, the produce being little more 

 than one-third that of the two preceding years. 



In order to understand the reason of this failure, it is 

 necessary to state that on the east coast of Newfoundland there 

 are believed to be always two more patches of breeding Harp 

 Seals ; one is known as the Southern and the other as the 

 Northern Patch, these two nurseries being situated at a distance 

 from each other of a hundred miles, sometimes much more, some- 

 times rather less. The young seals on the Southern Patch are, 

 I am informed, born in the last days of February, or the first 

 days of March, those on the more northern ice between the 

 10th and the 15th of March. The former, too, are larger than 

 the latter, their pelts, with fat attached, weighing from 50 to 

 60 lbs., whereas those found on the northern patch do not exceed 

 from 40 to 45 lbs. at the same age. 



Owing to the great destruction of old seals in the season of 

 1892, the steamers were not allowed to leave port till two days 



